Notes: The FX-05 Xiuhcoatl (Fusil Xiuhcoatl 2005; Xiuhcoatl means Fire
Serpent) began replacing the G-3 and the limited-issue M-16A1s and other assault
rifles in limited use by the Mexican military in 2005. The FX-05 is itself still
in limited issue, primarily due to funding problems, but it it already equipping
the GAFE (Special Forces Airmobile Groups), most of the Military Police, and a
few other Army units. The FX-05 has had an interesting political and legal
history Ė most military experts believe it is an unlicensed derivative of the
export version of Heckler & Koch G-36 assault rifle, with a very few
modifications internally and dressed up externally so it does look exactly the
same as the G-36. The Mexican firm of Mendoza (who claims to have independently
developed the FX-05) was very nearly sued in international court by Heckler &
Koch over this; it is possible that Heckler & Koch dropped the lawsuit in
exchange for some "royalty" money and an agreement that Mexico buy an
unspecified number of actual G-36 rifles from Heckler & Koch at inflated prices
for their special operations units. The Mexicans did test the G-36 and
rejected it, though what technical information they obtained during their trials
is also unknown.

Another story says that Heckler & Koch did in fact examine the FX-05 in
detail, and, while they thought it might have been based on the G-36, concluded
the FX-05 was not similar enough to the G-36 for Heckler & Koch to believe they
could win a lawsuit. A third story says that Heckler & Koch dropped the suit at
the request of the US government, again in exchange for unspecified "rewards,"
and for unspecified reasons. Regardless, production of the FX-05 is proceeding
at a low rate, though the Mexicans hope to go to full production rates in late
2007 or early 2008.

The FX-05 is a modular design, which allows for changes in sights,
accessories, stocks, muzzle devices, etc., quite easily. Most of the receiver,
optical sight/carrying handle, and the pistol grip and trigger group do in fact
look almost exactly like that of the G-36, though more composites are used in
the construction of those elements. (In fact, the lower receiver is virtually
entirely made of high-strength polymer.) The stock is usually side-folding,
though sliding stock and fixed-stock versions have been seen in photographs; the
fixed and folding stocks look very much like those of FNís SCAR, while the
sliding stock is very much like that of Coltís M-4. In the case of the
side-folding and fixed stocks, they are a bit shorter than the stocks of most
assault rifles, in order to account for the shorter stature of most Mexican
soldiers. The handguard is equipped with short MIL-STD-1913 rails on either side
near the end of the handguard; the optical sight/carrying handle can be removed,
revealing another, longer MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver. A possibility for
future versions is another MIL-STD-1913 rail under the handguard, running the
full length of the handguard (though this has not yet been seen on any FX-05).
Fire controls and the magazine release are ambidextrous. The FX-05 is able to
accept an M-203PI (but not a standard M-203). Standard magazines are made from
translucent plastic, again virtually identical to those of the G-36, though the
FX-05 is rumored to be able to accept M-16-type magazines as well (again, this
has not yet been seen by observers). Rumors also state that a carbine with an
even shorter barrel than the assault rifle version exist, as well as
longer-barreled SAW and marksman versions; these also have not been seen by any
observers as of yet.

The Mexicans have not allowed anyone else from any other country, military or
civilian, to examine or even handle any FX-05s; therefore, anything after this
point is essentially an educated guess. The operation is presumed to be
virtually identical to that of the G-36. The barrel of the standard version has
been calculated from photographs to be approximately 12.5 inches long and tipped
with a pronged flash suppressor; versions have also been seen with several
different types of muzzle brakes. The barrel length seems to make the FX-05 more
of an assault carbine than an assault rifle. Rumors indicate that the barrel is
made from stainless steel, with a chromed bore and an intermediate rifling twist
compatible with both SS-109 and older M-193 5.56mm NATO ammunition (which would
put it somewhere from 1:7 to 1:9). The short barreled version is rumored to have
a barrel of only about 9 inches, and the barrels of the SAW and marksman
versions 20 inches. (Presumably, the marksman version uses a better barrel and
better sight than that of the SAW version, and the SAW version uses 100-round C-Mags
as standard. Both are probably equipped with bipods. Marksman versions would
probably not use muzzle brakes, but I have included them below "just in case.")
Small arms experts believe the weight of the standard FX-05 to be approximately
2.65 kilograms. Assuming the FX-05 is based on the export model of the G-36, the
optical sight on the carrying handle would be of 1.5x magnification with a
high-contrast aiming reticle, though rumors state that the optical sight of the
FX-05 does in fact have 3x magnification. Adjustable backup iron sights are also
provided.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The FX-05 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Merc 2000 Notes: The Germans sold the Mexicans genuine G-36s instead, and the
FX-05 was never even designed or contemplated.